The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-15
ARp,s CHERUBs.
Another ono of His Boys Discards Knee
Breeches.

ARP'S CHERUBS.
Another ono of Bis Boys Discards Knee
Breeches.
They played a prank on me while ]
was gone to Alabama. They transmogri.
fed my boy into man, or tried to. /
didn't know him, for he had discarded his
long stockings and knee breeches, and
had on long pants and a big boys hat
and a standing collar ard blue cravat'
He looked like he had grown six inches.
Alas for me. A dark shadow came over
my hilarity, and left like l had lost my
boy, my pet, and the little Carl was gone
gone never to return. He loves me all
the same, I know, but soon he will have
other loves that will slip in between him
and me. When boy gets on long pants
he suddenly changes his nature, and don't
want to trot around after you like he used
TO. 1 see it coming in Carl. He keeps
his forepaws clean now, very clean, aud
works on his finger nails ard brushes his
hair and wears sleeve buttons and takes
sly looks in at the glass. He is noticing
they say, and talks about sweethcar;s.
And so we have to surrender to the Inc.
vitable. We will have him but few
years more, and then he too will leave us
Just as the other FIVE have done. If he
won't stray away off and get sick we will
try to be reccnciled. And soon Jessie
will 90 too-our darling-the last and
sweetest of all, and then what will the
old folks do? They will have to find new
pets in the grandchildren, and 50 it will
all work out right in the long run. May
be it will. I hope it will, for Solomon
says "the glory of au old man is his chill
dren,s children"
But old age is not without its comforts
and consultations. We had family
reunion the other day. All the children
and grandchildren gathered at the pater-
nal mansion, and for a. whole week We
had a carnival of love and peace and joy
The big pot was pitt in the little pot
The turkey gobbler was sacrificed upon
the altar of maternal love, and the tur'
key hen came next and We had chicken
enough for dozen preachers. The boys
lare fond offried chicken and smothered
chicken and roast chicken and any Other
kind of chicken, and our New York boy
told how the New York chickens did Dot
taste good-not goorlik the chickens al
bone. That boy kept the family in an
uproar, for he, too, has been trapsmogri'
fed, and talks yankee and is precise in
language and manners. He calls him
self the pauper and his Virginia brother
the millionaire. He wrote an advance
letter and said that the millionaire and
thepauper would meet at Washington city
and come home together-and so they
did. The pauper sent on his ration:
ahead so as to be sure of plenty TO eat
The dray came up from the depot loaded
down with sugar and coffee, and tea, and
yankee butter, and cheese, and canned
goods, and preserves, and SO fourth
enough for regiment. l like these
paupers who do that way, but it is way
that will keep them paupers, I reckon
The Virginia boy is making money build
ing railroads. He is accumulating, and
maybe he will some day be capitalist
as Cobe calls it-and 80 we call him the
millionaire. He dident send on any ra'
tions, bnt brought his pocket book along
My girls had told their mother that they
were just obliged to have some clothes il
they went to Florida, and their mother
gave 'em a gentle hint that meant busi
ness. Girls are always out of clothes ano
are just obliged to have hem-obliged te
have them. It reminds me Of the Irish
man who saw that the only way to ge
rich was to buy nothing that you were
obliged to have.
But before had fnanciered the way!
and means for the clothes these boys ano
the millionaire found outthe great neces
sity, and those girls soon gave me to un
derstand that needn't trouble myself
and they walked around me with a.
much Indifference as if didn't live here
at all. Well, they have gone to Florida
and the next thing 1 know will be writ
ing very affsctioDate letters home ant
mention they are out of money. These
stray chickens always come home tt
roost. l wonder how much money Mrs
Arp has got, and where she keeps it
Pm going to rummage around her burea'
and hiding places some of these day
while she is gone. She never asks mt
for money-tbat is, for herself, but sh'
always has it. 1 borrow from her som'
times when I get rs poor as Lazarus
Every now and then l hand her five O.
ten to keep for ME, but I never call TO
it; and the boys give her some ever ant
anon. Last night she asked me to chang
half dollar for her, and gave her
quarter and gold piece under pretenc
that it was another quarter. She neve
said anything-she never does-but tha
gold piece has gone where the woodbin
twineth. Maybe it is casting bread upol
the waters and it will return to me afte
many days-yes, after very many days
A man oughtent to burden his wife will
gratitude. 1t is rather humilatiDg for
proud.spirited woman like Mrs. Arp VIII
wears number two shoe and steps lik
a deer, to have to ask her lord for none.
or even to hint that she would like t
have some. He ought to anticipate he
wants and do it in such sly careless wa
that makes honors easy. Give her you